RIP Brigit Forsyth

[80sChav]

Brigit has sadly passed away aged 83 years old, Brigit who was probably most well known as Thelma from the Likley Lads (a great comedy Imho, that provided many many a laugh) , but was also in many other programmes in Episode roles/parts

RIP Brigit Forsyth

[George 1978]

I don't know about anyone else, but when I glance at her name being written down I sometimes think that it actually says Bruce Forsyth!

Anyway, RIP to her.

[darren]

Brigit Dorothea Mills (28 July 1940 – 1 December 2023), better known by her stage name Brigit Forsyth, was a Scottish actress, best known for her roles as Thelma Ferris in the BBC comedy Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads?[1] and Helen Yeldham in the ITV drama Boon. From 2013 to 2019, Forsyth appeared in the BBC comedy Still Open All Hours.

Early life
Forsyth was born, as Brigit Dorothea Connell, in Malton, North Riding of Yorkshire, England[2] on 28 July 1940.[3] Her grandfather was a doctor in the town and delivered her. Her mother, Anne (nee Forsyth)[3] was a painter, and her father, Frank James Connell,[4] an architect and town planner in Edinburgh.[5][6] After leaving St George's School for Girls[7] in Edinburgh, Forsyth trained as a secretary before enrolling at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London, where she won the Emile Littler Award.[8]

Career
Forsyth began her professional career in Edinburgh with the Gateway Theatre Company (1960–61). She then moved to the Theatre Royal, Lincoln, (1961–62) and in 1962 to the Arthur Brough Players in Folkestone. On her return to Lincoln, she changed her professional name to Forsyth.[3] Her film career began with the Roald Dahl-scripted The Night Digger (1971), playing a district nurse. Her film work also included a version of The Likely Lads (1976) as Thelma Ferris.[9]

Forsyth played the cello from the age of nine, but abandoned it once she went to drama school; her ability was employed when, in 2004, she was cast in the lead role in Cello and the Nightingale, a play about internationally known cellist Beatrice Harrison that premiered at York Theatre Royal[10] and in Killing Time (2019), an off-Broadway production in which she played the instrument and wrote the music.[8]

Forsyth's best-known television work was Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads? as Thelma Chambers / Thelma Ferris (1972–74).[11] She also appeared in The Glamour Girls (1980–82) as Veronica Haslett; Tom, Dick and Harriet (1983) as Harriet Maddison,[9] The Practice as Dr. Judith Vincent (1986),[9] Sharon and Elsie as Elsie Beecroft (1984–85),[9] Playing the Field (BBC1, 1998) as Francine Pratt,[11] and Boon (ITV, 1989) as Helen Yeldham.[9] She guest-starred in a number of other television shows such as The Bill, Doctor Who, Agatha Christie's Poirot and Coronation Street.[9]


RIP

[dannyboy]

As Thelma, she pretty much turned the Likely Lads into a trio. A very talented and lovely lady is sadly missed. RIP Thelma pet.